This copy is for your personal non-commercial use only. To order presentation-ready copies of Toronto Star content for distribution to colleagues, clients or customers, or inquire about permissions/licensing, please go to: www.TorontoStarReprints.com

It was 1971 and the then-11-year-old cried after Leon McQuay slipped, fell and fumbled on the slick turf of Vancouver’s Empire Stadium, the most memorable play in a loss to the Calgary Stampeders in the 59th Grey Cup.

On Tuesday, as Harding stood with a few thousand other Argos fans at Nathan Phillips Square, all he could do was smile. The long-time season-ticket holder reflected on Toronto’s 35-22 win over those same Stampeders in the 100th Grey Cup, the first time he’s seen them win it all first-hand.

“This is so rewarding,” said Harding, 52, who came to the victory parade and rally decked out in his Argos hat and jersey and carrying a team flag.

“I’m elated.”

Article Continued Below

It was the same story along the parade route as people lined the streets — 15 deep on each side in some locations — to cheer the players and coaches who rode in the back of pick-up trucks. Many came down from their office towers over the lunch hour to salute the team and the Grey Cup as it passed.

“I’m a huge fan of Toronto sports teams,” said Michael Black, 26, who was born and raised in the city and came from his real estate office in the Beach to watch the parade.

“I’ve just been waiting for one of them to win.”

Black, who has regularly attended Argos games since he was a kid and was there Sunday with his dad, Paul, a diehard fan, said he “pretty much lost my voice” cheering on Toronto and booing the Stampeders “but it was worth it.”

Even Paul Anderson, 38, in town from Red Deer, Alta., to cheer on his Stampeders, had to agree. Though he heckled Argos defensive back Jordan Younger — “it’s all ours next year” — who carried the Grey Cup in the final truck of the parade, he said he didn’t begrudge Toronto taking the title.

“I’m disappointed, of course. But I honestly don’t mind the Argos winning,” Anderson said as he made his way up Bay St. clad in a red Stampeders jersey.

“At least it wasn’t the (Saskatchewan) Roughriders. If they’d won the 100th Grey Cup I wouldn’t have heard the end of it from their fans.”

Once the entourage reached Nathan Phillips Square, the players were introduced one-by-one to the cheering crowd, throwing small blue footballs out as they made their way on stage. As expected, quarterback Ricky Ray, Grey Cup MVP Chad Kackert, defensive end Ricky Foley (the big game’s top Canadian) and CFL Most Outstanding Player Chad Owens got the biggest roars.

“Toronto is one of the best cities in the entire universe,” Younger told the crowd to thunderous approval. “Now we’ve got the hardware to go with it.”

Mayor Rob Ford proclaimed it “Toronto Argonauts Day,” though his attempts to complete the task were briefly delayed by a couple of big kisses on the cheek from defensive lineman Adriano (The Kissing Bandit) Belli.

“It doesn’t happen at home very often,” Kendal Hase, 30, an Argos season-ticket holder, said as she cheered the players parading by.

“Hopefully this makes the city really get behind the team, because they deserve it.”

More from the Toronto Star & Partners

LOADING

Copyright owned or licensed by Toronto Star Newspapers Limited. All rights reserved. Republication or distribution of this content is expressly prohibited without the prior written consent of Toronto Star Newspapers Limited and/or its licensors. To order copies of Toronto Star articles, please go to: www.TorontoStarReprints.com